Origami... in spaaaaace: Inflatable folded objects discovery brings new meaning to blowing up buildings
- Reference: 1619101813
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/04/22/inflatable_origami_spacecraft/
- Source link:
Taking inspiration from the ancient Japanese paper-folding art, the team have designed and produced a structure that expands from a flat structure into a 3D construction and locks into place when pumped full of fluid, most likely air, according to [1]a paper in Nature this week .
[2]
Katia Bertoldi, professor of applied mechanics at Harvard University, and her team showed a tent-like shelter of 2.5m × 2.6m × 2.6m in size can be produced from a folded form of 1.0m × 2.0m × 0.25m and be held in shape automatically with internal hinges without the need for continuous inflation. Applying a vacuum can then collapse the structure when necessary (watch the video for a demonstration).
[3]Youtube Video
In an accompanying article, Princeton University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering associate professor Sigrid Adriaenssens said of the research that the innovation could "save storage space, transportation costs and setting-up times, and the self-locking inflation system would enable easy and robust deployment."
[4]
She explained that while scissor lifts and bouncy castles offer examples of deployable structures, they either need solid structures as a foundation or constant inflation.
The researchers' innovative approach was to design enclosed origami shapes that have two or more stable equilibrium states by connecting the rigid facets with stretchable hinges. "These hinges deform to resolve the geometric incompatibility, and thus allow the system to shift from one local minimum-energy state to another," Adriaenssens said.
But she pointed out scaling might be an issue when the mass of the structure itself becomes significant, into the realm of 10 metres to 100 metres in size.
[5]
So, although useful for temporary or emergency shelters, the approach may have its limits on this planet – although not off it.
"Several issues will need to be addressed before the structures can be used at large scales on Earth. But having the ability to transport large objects in compact forms is also highly desirable for space missions. Moreover, the reduction of gravitational force — and the absence of building regulations — in space would also facilitate the use of the new origami technology," Adriaenssens opined. ®
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[1] https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03407-4
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YIGdnFy1cSnZ9McmzModXQAAAMw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://youtu.be/Y-6fKoqKEKo
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YIGdnFy1cSnZ9McmzModXQAAAMw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YIGdnFy1cSnZ9McmzModXQAAAMw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Innovation?
I think you missed the bit about them being rigid and bistable! If you punscture the inflation tubes it doesnt collapse.
Annoyed because I've been trying do do something with inflatable foam that goes rigid when it sets - this leapfrogs that to some degree - I'd like to see an geodesic greenhouse that comes in a suitcase though!
Mythbusters - lead balloon
Adam Savage had to devise a way to create a structure that could be made flat and then inflated (with helium) to shape.
About 10 years ago.
Exactly the same principle as this. Only it was lead foil.
Flexibility
The requirement for flexible hinges must mean that the panels also must be somewhat flexible in order to transition between stable states. Not sure I'd want to be in one in a high wind, without additional stabilisation.
However, very interesting research, I wonder whether they need the air pump to put them up, could people just pull or push them into shape instead?
Star Trek
In the "Planet of Judgement" a similar idea is described for emergency use on a hostile planet.
Innovation?
Apart from the fact that it may return to its original packed shape by itself, this has little advantage over the blow up tents and awnings that I have owned for years in the UK and seen in use across Europe.
The addition of 3 bungie cords has made my large motorhome awning self packing (to a large extent) when the valves in the inflation tubes are undone (and to a much greater extent if the pump is attached and used in the vacuum mode. To the point that I can drop the carry bag over the top, roll the whole thing through 180degrees, do the zip up and carry it away.)
Putting that awning up by myself takes 10 minutes (mostly getting it in the correct place WRT to motorhome) and taking down again under 5 minutes (mostly getting the air out of the air beams).